What a journey it has been for our Killarney RFC Minis this season!
From proudly hosting the Munster provincial Aviva Mini Rugby Festival right here at our home grounds earlier in the year, our young players took things to the ultimate next level last Sunday: running out onto the hallowed turf of the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
A Celebration of Grassroots Rugby
The National Aviva Mini Rugby Festival is the absolute highlight of the mini rugby calendar. Throughout the season, over 2,000 boys and girls participated across four provincial festivals (held in Connacht, Munster, Leinster, and Ulster) and a dedicated Girls’ Festival.
Last Sunday, the focus shifted to the capital as 340 children from 20 different clubs across the country gathered at the Aviva Stadium. The core ethos of these festivals is simple but vital: fun, friends, and rugby.
Memories to Last a Lifetime
For our Killarney RFC players, the excitement of playing in the same stadium as their national heroes was palpable. The day was brilliantly organised, providing a wonderful backdrop for the visiting teams, their dedicated coaches, and the parents who made the journey up from Kerry.
As if playing at the Aviva wasn’t enough of a thrill, the kids were treated to a very special surprise when Irish international scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park dropped in to meet the teams, take photos, and pass on some words of encouragement to the future stars of the sport!
Thank You to Our Rugby Family
Events like this are a testament to the hard work put in at the grassroots level. We want to extend a massive thank you to Aviva and the IRFU for organising such a phenomenal festival series.
To our own Killarney RFC coaches, volunteers, and parents: thank you for making the trip and for giving these young players an experience they will be talking about for years to come.
The future of Killarney RFC is looking brighter than ever. Up Killarney! 🖤❤️
